Arriva’s 6,000 strong Uk bus fleet: on route for fuel efficiency drive

Using buses is a great way of 'doing your bit' for theenvironment and easing road congestion. After all, one bus full ofpeople can take up to 70 cars off our roads. Now Arriva has goneone step further, by using the latest technology to make its 6,000strong UK bus fleet super fuel-efficient.

The bus operator has joined forces with fuel provider BP in apioneering agreement to reduce fuel used on its buses, resulting inhuge environmental benefits. A new state of the art fuel managementsystem which monitors, in minute detail, fuel consumption on eachbus it operates has been installed at depots across the UK.

The computerised system measures each depot's fuel tank stocksand movements remotely via a GSM phone line; fuel issued to eachvehicle, and miles per gallon used, with all information collatedcentrally.

The new equipment will also help shape Arriva's future vehiclepurchase decisions. And electronic tags on the vehicles - whichidentify the vehicle to the fuel pump – reduce the risk oftheft.

In the UK , the Arriva bus fleet consumes almost 160 millionlitres of ultra low sulphur diesel every year. Arriva expects that,through these tighter management controls and streamlinedprocesses, it will reduce fuel consumption by 7 per cent. As adirect result, there will be a reduction in pollutants entering theatmosphere, with CO 2 emissions reducing by more than 29 kilotons ayear.

And Arriva is now using BP's advanced synthetic lubricants whichproduce less internal friction in the engine – resulting in lessfuel needed to power the vehicle. Environmental benefits aretwofold: less fuel is being used, and the new lubricants don'trelease toxins into the atmosphere.

Mark Bowd, director of technical services for Arriva, said:

We are committed to reducing the levels of harmfulemissions into the environment through the effective selection,maintenance and fuelling of our vehicles. This latest technologywill play a major part in helping us be more fuelefficient.

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